Foot massage device



July 21, 1959 L. REITER FOOT MASSAGE DEVICE Filed July 24, 1958 United States Patent Office 2,895,470 Patented July 21, 1959 FOOT MASSAGE DEVICE Lambert Reiter, Spring Park, Minn. Application July 24, 1958, Serial No. 750,701

Claims. (Cl. 128-57) This invention relates to a massaging device particularly adapted for massaging the feet and the legs.

It is desirable to have a simple passive means for quickly and effectively massaging the feet. It is extremely helpful to the well being of an individual to have the feet in comfortable and relaxed condition free from tenseness or soreness either generally or in specific areas. To this end it is desirable to have such a massaging device as will quickly and effectively relieve congestion, strain and tiredness felt in the feet and improve the circulation through the feet. It is desirable to have such a device which is adaptable for use without requiring adjustment or other prior preparation for its use.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a foot massaging device of very simple construction having a combination of rollers mounted in such relationship that substantially all parts of the foot may be reached by the operator in a single continuous massaging effort.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a foot massaging device adapted to massage both the lower and upper portions of the foot, as Well as the sides thereof, and which is equally adaptable for massaging the leg as well, and wherein the degree of pressure of massage is controlled entirely by the operator.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a foot massaging device comprising a combination of elongated rollers mounted on a simply constructed supporting member, said rollers being positioned on said supporting member for reaching the lower and upper portions of the foot in one operation and for reaching the side portions of the foot as well, and said rollers having bosses thereon in spaced relation to increase the penetration of the massaging effect and to concentrate the massaging in certain specific areas or in certain specific points.

With reference to the structure set forth in the previous object, said supporting member also having mounted thereon spaced pegs adapted to be used in connection with said rollers for massaging specific portions of the foot.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in Which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of applicants device;

Fig. 2 is a view of applicants device in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view of applicants device in side elevation, a portion thereof shown in section; and

Fig. 4 is a broken away portion of applicants device showing a modification thereof.

Referring to the drawings, applicants device is shown comprising a base plate 10. Said base plate may be variously formed. In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated, said base plate is shown to be substantially rectangular in plan having a relatively small thickness and having a bottom plate 11 formed of a sheet material which will be adapted to have a non-sliding outer surface so that applicants device may be readily held in stationary position while in use. Said nonslidable surface may be variously formed and its particular composition forms no part of the present invention. Materials having such a surface formed thereon are in common use. Adjacent either end of said member 10 are a plurality of apertures 13 through which screws may be disposed if it is desired to permanently anchor applicants device in a given location.

Secured centrally and transversely to said base mem ber 10 is an upstanding supporting member 15 substantially rectangular in plan. Said member 15 may be secured to said member 10 in various ways. In the present embodiment a transverse groove 16 is formed centrally of said member 10 and the lower portion of said member 15 is disposed in said groove. A plurality of screws '21 extending upwardly through said member 10 will secure said member 15 to said member 10-, as indicated in Fig. 3. Right-angled bracket members 22 are shown here additionally securing said member 15 to said member 10 and forming a brace for said member 15. Said brackets are shown placed in spaced relation at one side of member 15, and fastened to said members 15 and 10 by screws 23.

Said member 15 comprises a front side 17, end walls 18 and 19, and a top wall 20. Upstanding from said top wall 20 is a bracket 24 comprising spaced arms 25 and 26 having right-angled base portions 27 and 28 secured to said member 15 by screws 29. Said arms 25 and 26 have upper terminal portions 33 and 34 bent outwardly and inclined somewhat downwardly. Disposed between said arms 25 and 26 adjacent the upper portions thereof is an elongated roller 38. Said roller in the present embodiment of the applicants invention is journalled on a shaft 40 and is held from transverse movement thereon by spacer washers 41. Said shaft is here indicated as having end portions extend through said arms 25 and 26 and having the ends thereof upset to be riveted in position. Said roller 38 may be formed of various substantially hard materials and is indicated here as being formed of wood. Said roller will be spaced upwardly of said top wall 20 to permit the front half portion of a foot to extend therethrough.

Mounted on said roller 38 are shown a plurality of spaced bosses 42. Said bosses may be variously formed and are indicated here as being in the form of rings of considerable thickness of a composition having slight resilience and being anchored in said roller by recessed screws 43. It has been found that a thickness of A of an inch produces desirable results. Said bosses 42 may be spaced in various ways, but are here shown as being in alignment both transversely and longitudinally.

Respectively mounted on said terminal portions 33 and 34 are rollers 50 and 51. Said rollers 54 and 51 as here shown are respectively provided with shafts 52 and 53 extending therethrough and on which said rollers are freely mounted. Spacing washers 54 and 55 are respectively placed at either end of said rollers on said shafts. Said shafts 52 and 53 have their lower end portions respectively threaded with said threaded portions extending through said terminal portions 33 and 34 and being respectively secured thereto by nuts 56 and 57. Thus said rollers 50 and 51 are upstanding from said terminal portions. With said terminal portions shown being bent outwardly and downwardly, said rollers 50 and 51 are respectively inclined in a direction away from each other. Mounted on said rollers 50 and 51 are bosses 60 and 61 similar in construction to said bosses 42 but shown to be in staggered transverse relation and fastened in position by recessed screws 43.

Mounted oh the front side 25 of said upstanding member 15 in a substantially horizontal position and adjacent the top thereof is a second bracket 70 comprising spaced arms 71 and 72 which respectively have right-angled base portions 73 and 7 anchored to said side 25 by screws 75. Said arms 71 and 72. are shown respectively to be in alignment with said ar'ms 25 andln and adjacent thereto. Said arms 25 and 26 and said arms 71 and 72 are respec tively shown to be extended in directions at right angles to one another. Disposed between said arms 71 and 72 is a roller 77 similar in construction to said roller 38 being journaled on a shaft 73 and having retaining washers 79 at either end thereof. Said shaft '73 has end portions disposed through said arms 71 and 72 and having its outer ends upset to be riveted in position. Said roller 77 has mounted thereon a plurality of bosses fit similar in construction to said bosses 42 and held in position by recessed screws 81.

Mounted on said side 25 and extending outwardly at right angles therefrom are pegs 33 and 84 respectively having rounded "outer end portions. Said pegs may be secured to said side 25 in any conventional well known manner, such as by having portions recessed therein and fastened by an adhesive.

Mounted on said ends 18 and 19 are pegs '85 and 86 identical in construction to said pegs $3 and 84. Said pegs 85 and 36 are mounted adjacent the upper end portions of 'said sides 18 and '19 and extend outwardly at right angles therefrom.

In operation, applicants massaging device will be placed in a position comfortable to the operator who may be seated ina chair, on a stool, or who may be seated on the side of his bed. To get maximum relief in the foot, it is necessary to massage every portion thereof, not 'necessarily with an unusual degree of pressure, as with an even pressure, substantial penetration, and a continuous massaging effect to stimulate circulation and clear away con-- gestion from specific areas. Thus the operator will place his foot to engage said rollers 38 and 7,7, with the heel of his foot initially resting on said roller 77. The foot in the massaging operation will be moved forwardly and rearwardly with the bosses on said rollers penetrating the surface of the foot to create an efficient massaging and kneading effect. The foot may be inclined from one side to the other in being moved forwardly and rearwardly of said rollers so that the sides of the foot are also massaged by these same rollers. Thefoot may also be positioned to be adjacent the rollers 50 and 51 respectively for a massaging effect on the sidesof the foot simultaneously with the massaging of the bottom of the foot. The foot will be moved transversely ofsaid rollers 38 and 77 to alternately engage said rollers 50 and 51. Also the foot may rest on said roller 77 and use this roller for massaging the bottom of the foot with the foot extending upwardly under said roller 38 to have the upper surface portion of the root massaged simultaneously with the lower surface portion thereof.

Said pegs 83, 8d, and 36 maybe respectively utilized to massage or more particularly knead various specific points of the foot or sides of the foot, such as at the sides of the heels or ankle portions for a pinpoint massage With reference to Fig.4, a broken away portion of the applicants device is shownindicating a roller 83 identical in construction to said rollers 38 and 77, with the exception that the bosses 8? onsaid roller 88 are shown to be in a staggered relation transversely of said roller. Said bosses are shown held secured by recessed screws 90. I Thus it is seen that I have provided a very simply'construct-ed and yet highly eificient'foot massaging device adapted to effectively reach all portions of a foot for a massage thereof. This device has proved to be very effective and very satisfactory in actual use.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement-and pro- '4 portions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A foot massaging device having in combination, a base plate, a plate member upstanding from said base plate, a bracket having spaced arms mounted on said upstanding member to extend upwardly therefrom, an elongated roller spaced from said upstanding member and journaled between said arms, said arms respectively having terminal portions bent outwardly in a direction away from one another, a pair of rollers respectively mounted on said terminal portions and upstanding therefrom, said pair of rollers having their lower ends positioned close to the respective adjacent ends of said first mentioned roller, a second bracket mounted on said upstanding member, an elongated roller journaled in said second bracket in a position parallel to the position of said first mentioned roller and aligned therewith and being sufiiciently close thereto whereby both of said rollers may be engaged by a foot.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, said rollers having spaced bosses thereon, said bosses having considerable thickness.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1,. a plurality of spaced pegs mounted on said upstanding member for massaging specific small areas of a foot.

4. A foot massaging device having in combination, a base plate, a plate member upstanding from said base plate, a bracket upstanding from said plate member, an elongated roller journaled in said bracket, said bracket having-portions extending outwardly at either side thereof, a pair of rollers respectively journaled on and upstanding from said outwardly extending portions, a second bracket mounted on said upstanding member in a substantially horizontal position and adjacent the top of said member, an elongated roller journaled in said bracket, said first and second rollers being in parallel relation and in alignment whereby both of said rollers are readily simultaneously engaged by a foot.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, said first mentioned bracket comprising spaced arms supporting said first roller in a position spaced above said upstanding member sufficiently to permit the forward portion of a foot to be readily moved between said roller and said upstanding member.

6. A foot massaging device having in combination, a base plate, a plate member upstanding therefrom, a bracket upstanding from said plate member having a pair of spaced vertically extending arms, said arms respectively having terminal portions inclined outwardly and downwardly, an elongated roller journaled between said vertically extending arms, elongated rollers respectively journaled on said terminal portions to be upstanding therefrom, a second bracket extending outwardly of said upstanding member in a plane at right angles to the plane of said first mentioned bracket and in alignment therewith, said second bracket comprising spaced arms extending outwardly of said upstanding member in a direction at right angles to the direction of said arms of said first mentioned bracket, an elongated roller journaled between said arms of said second bracket, and said first and second rollers being sufficiently close to one another to'be simultaneously engagedby the foot of the operator.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6, said rollers having bosses thereon of small diameter and certain of said rollers having said bosses thereon in staggered relation.

8. The structure set forth in claim 6, a'pair of spaced pegs carried by said upstanding member, saidpegsextending outwardly in 'a direction at right angles'to the direction of said upstanding member, and a second pair of spaced pegs extending outwardly at either end of said upstanding member in the direction of the plane of said upstanding member.

9. A foot massaging device having in combination, a base plate, a plate member upstanding from said base plate, a bracket upstanding from said plate member having a pair of spaced arms extending outwardly of said upstanding member, said arms respectively having terminal portions bent to incline downwardly and outwardly, an elongated roller journaled between said arms adjacent the upper portion thereof, a pair of elongated rollers respectively journaled on said terminal portions and upstanding therefrom, the lower portions of said upstanding rollers respectively being closely adjacent the ends of said first mentioned roller, a second bracket carried by said upstanding plate member, said second bracket having spaced arms extending outwardly of said upstanding plate member in a direction at an angle to the direction of the arms of said first mentioned bracket, an elongated roller journaled between said arms of said second bracket,

said rollers respectively journaled between said arms of 20 said first and second brackets being in alignment and sufficiently close together to be simultaneously engaged by the foot of an operator, said rollers respectively having a plurality of bosses thereon, certain of said rollers having said bosses thereon in staggered relation.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9, said upstanding member having a plurality of spaced pegs having rounded outer ends, certain of said pegs extending outwardly from said upstanding member in a direction at right angles to the plane of said member and certain of said pegs extending outwardly of said upstanding member in a direction in the plane of said upstanding member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,755,144 Arranz Apr. 15, 1930 1,780,479 Gliifiih NOV. 4, 1930 2,285,958 Wheelock June 9, 1942 

